The Technical and Operations Group (TOG) is made up of the personnel at the European VLBI Network (EVN)
stations who provide the technical and operational expertise for operating the EVN as a VLBI array.The next EVN TOG meeting will take place on May 23 2017, at the Ventspils University College (VUC) in Ventspils, Latvia (Ventspils International Radio
Astronomy Center is subdivision of VUC). Global Millimeter VLBI Array (GMVA) technical meeting will be held in same place on May 22, 2017, the day before, to allow communication between both communities. See TOG & GMVA wiki page for 2017. One collective bus trips will be organized to ease travels between Riga International Airport and Ventspils. Trip from Riga Airport to Ventspils will be available on Sunday, May 21, the day before the GMVA meeting and trip from Ventspils to Riga Airport will be organized next day after TOG on May 24.

Please use the links below to register at the meetings.

Accomodation

We suggest to book accomodation in the following hotels & guest houses near Ventspils University College:

Transportation

If you are not using collective bus trips organized by us, the most convenient way to get to Ventspils from Riga International Airport is to rent a car. See list of car rental companies operating at the airport.

If you want to use public transport to get to Ventspils:

Getting from airport to Riga center: Riga International Airport is located 13 kilometers from the city center. Taxi should cost approximately 15 EUR, we recommend to take green Airbaltic taxi. There are also regular bus connections from the airport to the city center: please take bus No 22. Information how to get from and to Riga International Airport also can be found here.

Getting from Riga center to Ventspils: Ventspils is located 190 km from Riga. The only way to get here from Riga by public transportation is bus from Riga Bus Station. Please see the bus schedule and allow approximately 3 hours for the trip. In order to get from Ventspils Bus station to venue site or your accomodation take a taxi or go on foot.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from Ventspils, Latvia, as well as for hotel arrangement and costs.

Meeting Program

Tentative schedule

21.05.2017. Arrival to Ventspils

16:00 Bus from Riga airport to Ventspils. Time will be allocated in respect to arrivals time. Bus on 16:00 will not be organized due to low demand! Bus 22:00 will be arranged, if someone needs it, please contact us.

22.05.2017.GMVA technical meeting (Ventspils University College) and trip to Irbene

08:30-09:00 Registration

09:00-09:45 GMVA Technical Group (GTG) constitution

09:45-11:15 GTG meeting 1st session

11:15-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-14:00 GTG meeting 2nd session

14:00-15:00 Lunch

15:00-18:00 Trip and Excursion to Irbene Observatory

18:00-21:00 Barbeque at Irbene

21:00-22:00 Back to Ventspils

23.05.2017 EVN TOG (Ventspils University College)

09:00-10:30 TOG meeting 1st session

10:30-10:50 Coffee break

10:50-13:00 TOG meeting 2nd session

13:00-14:00 Lunch

14:00-16:00 TOG meeting 3rd session

16:00-16:15 Coffee break

16:15-17:45 TOG meeting 4th session

17:45-18:00 Meeting final remarks

24.05.2017.

~ 7:00 Departure to Riga airport for early arrivals (Time will be negotiated)

Local arrangements

Locations of Bus station, Ventspils University College and surrounding hotels are available here.